ITS OK TO CALL YOUR CHILD THE "SHORT" VERSION OF A NAME - SO BOLLOCKS TO ALL YOU FARKING SNOBS WHO TURN YOUR NOSES UP!

[MamaG]

You know who you are!

I did this with DS (as in Archie rather than Archibald - but a completely different name) and MIL in particular went ON and ON about it - the long version of DS's name sounds a tad pompous and I DON'T LIKE IT.

I don't want to hear ANYBODY on MN bleat "oh don't call him Ben, it has to be Benjamin" etc again

___

We use long and short version for ds1
Long version only for ds2
Long version only for ds3 (although we call him pet names based on his name)

I go by my shortened version because I always have been but I actually really like the long version of my name too - kind of too late to use it now though.

don't worry frosty! I'll go into full pregzilla mode just before I'm due and INSIST on at least 100 posts on a "wish me luck!" thread

DS has a shortened name - the long version of his sounds really pompous and DH said it was too posh (fair point).

Wow take a valium!

Only joking!

I just think that putting Elizabeth on a bc instead of Libby hands back some choice to the child later on, that's all.

I do see what you mean about the longer versions sounding old, but there is one practical problem, which a friend of mine encountered. She loved being called Vicki BUT - on CVs etc it's considered bad form to put down a name shortening and unfortunately employers etc assumed that her name was Victoria and she was putting a shortened version on her CV She was considering chnging her name to VIctoria by deed poll purely so she could put it on CVs etc but still go by Vicki in day to day life. Just a thought.

AnnVann, in a case like this, couldn't she just use Victoria on the CV anyway? I think I would and then explain that actually I use Vicky instead.

We all use long and short version for dd. I love both versions tbh.

The goldfish I had when I was 4 were called A, B, C, D and E.

You can't fault the logic there.

Might go same route with kids. The whole name thing is getting just too fraught, especially on here!

My ds gets called Wilfred and Wilf( as well as lots of other things when hes naughty)

I have a longish name and was always, always known by a shorter nickname as a child, but gradually I started using the longer formal name - especially for CVs, job interviews etc. I am extremely glad that I have the long name as a fallback for more 'formal' occasions although I always think of myself by the short name.

So for that reason I am firmly in the camp of 'Put The Long Name On The Birth Certificate'.

Sorry MamaG. Hope rest of your pregnancy goes well.

each to their own... with archie though i think it would be very cruel to burden a small child with archibald???

My name isn't Archibald

my FULL given name is a shortened version of an old fashioned frumpy name

i am so glad my parents didnt give me the full name

sorry lulubai - bad timing!

i have had NO PROBLEMS with formality and CVs etc

I suppose, if you only have the shortened version, you could always use the full name when you feel like it. Reverse of people calling themselves Charlie when their birth certificate says Charles - don't see why it couldn't work the other way round and a Lizzie couldn't call himself Elizabeth if she felt like it.

Much more straightforward if you do have the long name to start with, though. So I'm firmly in the 'put the long name on the birth certificate so they have the option if they ever want to use it' camp.

YUK i wouldnt use the longer version of my name if you gave me a million quid

MamaG - nowt wrong with Archie! It is a good name! My nephew is Archie but not Archibald.

I think it is fine to call your child a shortened name if that is what you want. Don't listen to me though 'cos DS1 has an old farmer's name and DS2 sounds like a fifty-something accountant.

Oh you have to tell us now!

my ds prefers Charlie

hates being called charles

depends on the name, but the meaning of the shortened version should be taken into context as well.
benjamin means 'son of jamin' the short version, ben, means 'son of' . so if you are happy to be calling your child that, then there is nothing wrong with that.
but, its like the name janeen. a beautiful word, but it means unformed foetus. i dont particularly want me dd called unformed foetus.

names are important. parents should choose what they consider good names for their darling children

I get annoyed when people say Lily is a shortened name. It can be short for Lillian or Elizabeth, but it is also the name of a flower and a name in itself. Not that there is anything wrong with shortened names.

I don't like kids being given the shortened versions of names BUT I do prefer some of the shortened versions to their longer ones. For instance, I like Charlie, I don't like Charles, I don't mind Archie but I wouldn't dream of calling a baby Archibald etc, but this just means that I wouldn't call my child any of the names

My full name is Jennie. I have never had any problems with CVs etc. The only problem I have had is with people occasionally assuming that it's Jennifer (blegh, sorry) and calling me that when I've told them my name is Jennie

I agree with MrsMattie (I think) though that it depends on the name ... Lily and Jennie are names in their own right, but some nns (Lottie?) aren't. And it can be nice to have options.